Dog Breeding - Encountering Problems

Whatever activity you’re involved in you can’t expect things to run smoothly all the time.  There will be times when you encounter problems and you need to find quick answers.  As a dog breeder you can be sure that problems will arise now and then.  If you think nothing will ever go wrong you might be in for a rude awakening.  You should be thinking positively while at the same time keeping various ‘what ifs’ at the back of your mind.

To help you prepare I have listed below some of the problems you may encounter as a dog breeder.  Your own problems may differ slightly but by learning about the potential solutions you will be able to deal with them as and when they arise.

Birth problems – these are quite common.  It is your responsibility as breeder to keep a close eye on your dog when she is due to give birth.  Occasionally a bitch will die during birth.  Would you be able to handle the situation?  Or the majority of pups in a litter may be born with deformities leaving only a few healthy specimens.  Would you know what to do?

The mother may not be able to look after her young, in which case you will have to take care of feeding duties. You will need to feed the pups with bottles or tubes.  If you’re very lucky your female dog will be impregnated the first time followed by a straightforward birth.  You need to bear in mind that this is not always the case.

Compatibility of dogs – the dogs may look compatible but looks can be deceiving.  You need to check the dogs are truly compatible before you start the mating program.  Ideally you should mate dogs of the same breed.  If you plan to cross breed you should check the genetic ancestry of both dogs to ensure their pups will not inherit any faults or health problems.  It is not a good idea to mate a Saint Bernard with a Bulldog because they are incompatible and the chances of the female dying during birth are greatly increased.  Check out the breeding standards of each dog in order to find a suitable mate.

Dog breeding involves a lot of expenditure.  Many breeders think they will be able to enjoy huge profits from their businesses.  Unfortunately this is not the case unless you are planning to operate on a large scale.  If you only have one female you will not make a lot of money.  The expenses you incur will be very high compared to the profits.  You will need to spend a lot of money on stud fees, vet fees, and essential items for the pups.  Some breeders aren’t interested in making money, they simply want to breed pups to give to friends and family members.

Anyone who wants to start dog breeding will need to take all these issues into account.  How much time and money are you willing to invest?  If you can answer these questions and you feel you can cope with the problems, then by all means go ahead.

Be ready to deal with any problems that arise and don’t give up too easily.